Law Enforcement Officers Team Up with Red Robin Gourmet Burgers to Raise Funds for Special Olympics Oregon

Oregon, October 8th. If you have ever dreamt about having your local police officers wait on you, now is your chance! Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin), Special Olympics Oregon and law enforcement officers in cities across the country will be serving guests at Red Robin^® restaurants on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 to raise funds for Special Olympics Programs through in-restaurant Tip-A-Cop^® events. At 380 Red Robin restaurants in 39 states, law enforcement officers will trade in their handcuffs and badges between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. to earn tips from restaurant guests to benefit their local Special Olympics Program. All Oregon Red Robin locations will be participating.

“Our annual Red Robin Tip-A-Cop events are always a good time for a great cause,” said Michael Teem, executive director, Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. “The tremendous level of law enforcement and community support, and the unparalleled generosity from Red Robin and Coca-Cola, is what will make this event so successful this year. The money raised will be used to support Special Olympics events and mission of inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities in communities throughout the United States through year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports.”

Tip-A-Cop is part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run^® (LETR) campaign in support of Special Olympics. LETR, which includes an international series of relay runs and special events like Tip-A-Cop, is supported by more than 85,000 law enforcement officers worldwide who help raise money and public awareness for Special Olympics. As the largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics, LETR funds raised go directly to local programs in states or countries where the funds are generated.

“Red Robin launched the Tip-A-Cop program in our restaurants seven years ago and, with the help of participating law enforcement officials, we have donated more than $2 million to Special Olympics programs across the country,” said Eric Houseman, president and chief operating officer at Red Robin, and Special Olympics Colorado board member. “After raising nearly $750,000 last year, we are proud to again partner with local law enforcement officials and Coca-Cola to support Special Olympics in the communities we serve.”

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Story submitted by Ryan Avery | Director of Marketing and Communications Special Olympics Oregon